Free Republic

SOCHI, Russia (AFP) - President Vladimir Putin's dog Koni has made an unusual appearance here during talks between the Russian leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The labrador sauntered into the meeting room in front of reporters at Putin's residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi and sat at Merkel's feet, causing the German chancellor apparent discomfort. Putin patted Koni and pulled the dog away from Merkel, saying: "I don't think the dog will scare you. She won't do anything bad, she likes journalists," Interfax news agency reported Sunday. "How old is she?" Merkel asked. "Five years old," Putin,...

FBI affidavit alleges imam bankrolled plot 08/23/03 LES ZAITZ One of six men charged with trying to join the Taliban and kill U.S. soldiers said Mohamed Abdirahman Kariye, leader of Portland's largest mosque, funded the overseas trip with $12,000 that came from mosque members, according to a newly released FBI affidavit. Defendant Jeffrey Battle also was secretly recorded telling how Kariye, religious leader of the Islamic Center of Portland, participated in a prayer session at the mosque with the group just before the men left and later directed them to return if they couldn't get into Afghanistan, the affidavit said....